Attorn e



June 11, 1929. J. N. DERSCHUG CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1g VENTOR ATTORNEI/ June 11, 1929. .1. N. DERSCHUG I 1.717.335

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10, 1923 SSIiets-Sheet 2 4 m ENTO 75 r June 11; 1929. J. N. DERSCHUG 1.717.335

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10, 19215 5 Sheqts-Sheet 5 Q ggvzlvTox W W. ATTORNELV June 11, 1929. J. NJ D ERSCHUG CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE 5 SheetsSheet 4 Filed NOV. 10, 1925 E/VTOE 1 y WM AZTmNEs/ June 11, 1929.

J. N. oE scHue CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed NOV. 10, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet Patented June 11,1929. 1 i y i i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN N. DERSCHUG, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 SYRACUSE WASHING MACHINE CORPORATION, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE.

CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE.

Original application filed January 31, 192G, Serial No. 355,515. Divided and this application filed November 10, 1923. Serial No. 673,952.

This invention relates to certain improvefrom which power is transmitted to the clashments in clothes washing machines and rcers and to the wringer. fers more particularly to the driving means Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken 55 for the washing and wringing mechanism on line 55, Figure 3.

5 and to the relation of said driving means and Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged vertical secmochanisms to the frame and tub of the mational views taken respectively on lines 66, chine as a division of my Patent 1,480,157, and 7-7, Figure 1.

Jan. 8, 1924. Figure 8 is an enlarged horizontal sec- 60 The main object of my present invention is tional view taken on line 88, Figure 2.

10 to increase the general working efficiency of Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view the various parts of a machine of this type by taken in the plane of line 99, Figure 7. securing the power plant and main gear hous- The machine, as illustrated, comprises a ings to the under side of the tub-supporting main supporting frame -1 having a cir- 65 platform of the machine frame so that the cular platform 2 disposed in a substandriving connections for the washing and tially horizontal plane and supported by a wringing mechanisms may be brought into series of, in this instance, three upright legs more compact and balanced relation to the 3- in uniformly spaced relation circumaxes of movement of said mechanism. Anferentially or at the angles of an equilateral 7 other object is to support the wringer near triangle, said legs being extended some disone of the legs of the tripod in such manner tance above and below the plane of the platthat it may be swung to different positions form 2, and are secured to said platform over and away from the top of the vat with by bolts -4t.

out liability of overturning the machine, A circular band or ring 5 is secured 75 thereby avoiding the use of extra means of by bolts 6 to the inner faces of the upper support for this purpose. ends of the legs -3 to assist the platform A further object is to assemble the various 2 in holding the legs in fixed relation to mechanisms upon the machine in such maneach other and to said platform, said legs ner as to avoid excessive vibration thereof being preferably made of channel irons with so when in operation. their channels facing inwardly for impart- A still further object is to support the vat ing additional rigidity and strength thereto. on the frame in such manner that it may be The upper ends of the inwardly projecting readily removed without disturbing any of ribs of the legs -3 are recessed at -7-- to the other mechanisms except the removal of. form shoulders -8 which are engaged by 85 the yoke with the dashers thereon and the the lower edges of the ring or band -5- to post. further stiffen the frame against tortional Other objects and uses relating to other strains and at the same time affording a more specific parts of the machine will be brought positive connection between the band 5 out in the following description. and legs. 90

In the drawings The lower ends of the legs are mounted 40 Figure 1 is a top plan of a clothes washing upon suitable casters 9 each of which machine embodying the various features of comprises a bracket 10- secured to its leg. my invention. A circular v: t 20- is supported direct- Figure 2is a transverse vertical. sectional 1y upon the platform 2 within the legs 95 view of the same machine taken on line 2 2, -3-- and ring or band 5 so that it may be Figure 1. readily removed by upward displacement Figure 3 is a top plan of the mechanism and is provided with a suitable lid or cover underlying the vat, a portion of the support- -21 loosely resting upon its upper edge. ing bed therefor being broken away. The major portion of the vat is preferably 100 Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional made of non-corrodiblc sheet metal but in view taken on line 4 4, Figure 3, showing order that the washing operation and action means for transmitting motion from the of the interior mechanism may be inspected m t r shaft in the horizontal saunter shaft from time ta time; one of it is pro vided with a transparent panel 22 of glass or other suitable material made to conform to the curvature of the main body and has its edges suitably held against the inner faces of the marginal edges of the opening by internal flanges -23 which may be brazed or otherwise secured to the main body of the vat around the edges of the opening in which the glass panel 22- is inserted.

The cover or lid -2l is also provided with a central circular panel 24- of glass or other transparent material suitably held against the inner. face of the metallic portion of the cover by flanges 25-- which are clamped-to the metallic portion by bolts or screws -26, Figure 2.

A tubular post 27- is secured at its lower end to the center of the platform --2- and the bottom of the vat 20 and rises some. distance above the bottom of said vat for receiving and 'guiding a vertically movable plunger 29- hereinafter described, said post being provided near its lower end witlran annular flange 30 resting upon the upper face of the bottom of the vat and secured thereto in the manner shown in my patent previously referred to, said post being surrounded by a lower sleeve -35 to pre vent winding of the clothes on the stationary post.

A perforated sheet metal plate -4l0 of substantially the same diameter as that of the interior of the vat is supported in said vat a short distance above and in fixedrelation to the bottomthereof by means of suitable feet or projectionsl-ll on the. lower side ofthe plate, whichis provided with a series of perforations -4c2.

This perforated plate constitutes what may be termed a false bottom having its central portion provided .with an opening for receiving the post 27-- and allowing the said central portion to rest upon the base of the post, which additionally holds it. in spaced relation to the bottom of the vat.

The object of this perforated. plate is to allow the water. to pass therethrough from the bottom upward, and also from the top downward, which permits the. clothes which rest thereon to be more thoroughly washed by the vertical.reciprocatory dashers by rea son of the fact that the water is-free to pass entirely through the clothes in reverse. directions as produced by the suction and pressure of the dasher cups hereinafter more fully described.

The plunger 29- is preferably tubular and extends entirely through and beyond the ends of the post -27? in which it is guided in its vertical movement.

A yoke 4t3 is adj ustably mounted upon the upper end of the plunger 29 and is held in its adjusted position by a removable locking bolt44- which is adapted to enter in one of the series of openings l5- one above the other in the plunger some distance above the upper end of the post 2T for supporting the dashcrs at different heights relative to said post or rather relative to the bottom of the vat, said locking bolt being held in its locking position by means of a spring 46- which is pivoted at =l. to the yoke some distance to one side of the plunger so that the spring 46- may be n'iovedinto and out of engagement with the adjacent end of the locking bolt -l-lfor permitting the insertion and removal thereof into and from the apertures in the hub of the yoke. V p

This yoke provided with opposite dowin wardly curved arms --:l-8 to better resist the upward thrust strains to which the outer ends thereof carrying the dashers are subjected, particularly when said dashcrs are brought downwardly with considerable force on the clothes lying on the perforated plate 4().

These arms 48- are of substantially equal length and are provided at their outer ends with tubular heads e9 open at the bottom for receiving the reduced ends or hubs 50- of a pair of dashcrs -5l-.

P hanger reciprocating mechanism.

A collar --6lis loosely mounted upon the lower end of the plunger 29- to permit the latter to turn therein, said plunger being provided with a ratchet wheel (33- for a purpose hereinafter described.

This collar is provided with pendent apertured lugs 66-' for receiving a pivotal pin. 67- which projects beyond the outer faces of. the lugs for receiving and supporting a pair of links 68-, the latter being held in place by cotter pins 69, to permit the parts to be readily detached when necessary.

These lower ends of the links 68 are pivotally connected by a ,pin 7lto one end of a vertically movable rocking lever -73 having its opposite end pivoted at -7elto a bracket 'T5- which is secured to the under side of the platform or vat-supporting bed -2-, said lever-having its intermediate portion coimectcd by a pitn'ian -76 to a crank arm '?7- on one end of a rotary shaft section -78-- having its axis disposed at rigl-itanglcs to the plane o f movement of the lever -73--, as shown more clearly in Figures 2, 3 and 5.

This shaft section 78- is loosely journaled in one end of a revoluble sleeve or tubular counter shaft 79- which is journaled in tainers which are secured by screws --8G to the adjacent sides of the sleeve or counter shaft 79 and serve to hold the shaft section 78 against endwise movement relatively to said counter shaft.

The inner end of the shaft section 78 is provided with a clutch face 87 cooperating with a companion clutch face 88 on the adjacent end of a clutch section -S9- within the sleeve 79--, the intermediate portion of said clutch section -89- being provided with a diametrical slot 90 therethrough for receiving a key or pin 91 which is secured to the opposite walls of the sleeve 79 and serves to transmit rotary motion from said sleeve to the clutch section -89- and to allow the clutch section to be moved axially within the sleeve for engaging and disengaging its clutch face -88 with and from the companion clutch face 87 of the shaft section 78.

A spindle -92- coaxial with the sleeve -79- is loosely journaled at one end in a bushing 93- in the outer end of the clutch section -89 and extends outwardly through a gear 94 on the outer end of said sleeve, the inner end of the spindle being provided with a head -95 interposed between the inner end of the bushing and end wall of a socket 96 in which the head is rotatable to hold the clutch section and spindle against relative endwise movement and at the same time permitting relative rotation of the clutch section and spindle.

The outer end of the spindle -92 is provided with a grooved collar -97 for engagement by a shifting arm 98 which is secured to a rock shaft 99 in the gear case -83 one end of said rock shaft being extended through a suitable opening in the gear case and is secured to a hand lever 100 by which the shifting member -98 may be rocked in reverse directions for throwing the clutch section -89 into and out of engagement with the shaft section -'78 to start and stop the reciprocation of the plunger carrying the dashers -51.

The means for transmitting motion to the counter shaft or sleeve 79 comprises an electric motorA-having its frame suitably secured to the underside of the bed plate or platform 2-- and having its motor shaft as -adisposed horizontally at right angles to the axis of the counter shaft -79 as shown more clearly in Figure 3, said motor shaft being preferably made in sections cou pled together by a universal joint -a'- to compensate for any slight variations in the alignment of the shaft sections.

A we an B is secured to a motor shaft section b which is journaled in suitable bearings Z) in the gear case 82 and is connected by a universal coupling C- to a loose disc or collar -0- on the adjacent end of a coaxial motor shaft section -c'---.

The disc 0 which is loose on the shaft section cis connected by a slip clutch D to the shaft section c to prevent stalling of the motor in case the load driven by the worm B should be excessive, said slip clutch comprising a disc (Z secured by a pin (Z- in spaced relation to the disc c to receive between said discs at fibre disc cZ Additional discs c are loosely mounted upon the shaft section --0 between the disc (Z- and adjacent end of a coil spring F which surrounds the shaft section 0' and has its outer end abutting against an adjustin g screw or nut e-- which is loose on the shaft section -0 and is screwed into the adjacent end of an enclosing sleeve -F to adjust the tension of the spring and thereby regulate the friction between the several discs, the inner end of the sleeve F being rigidly secured to the disc 0-.

The worm B meshes with a worm gear which is secured by a set screw -f-- to the periphery of the sleeve or countershaft T 9- between the opposite end'walls of the c gear case S2 as shown in Figure 5, the gear coacting with the inner ends of the bearings -80 to hold the sleeve 79 against endwise movement.

It is now clear that when the motor is in operation and the clutch section 89 is forced into engagement with the clutch face S7- of the crank shaft --78' reciprocatory motion will be transmitted to the plunger 29 through the medium of the pitman .-76--, lever 73, link -68 and collar 6l for operating the dashers 51 into and out of engagement with the clothes which may rest upon the perforated plate 4O near the bottom of the vat.

Intermittent rotary motion.

Suitable means is provided for intermittingly rotating the plunger and dashers thereon step by step in one and the same dir ct-ion as the plunger is elevated, and for this purpose is provided the ratchet wheel 63 secured to the lower end of the plunger, in the manner previously described, directly above the collar -Gl which has its upper end reduced in diameter to form a journal bearing for a horizontal rocking member G-carrying a pawl and a radial pin the pawl g being spring pressed radially into engagen'ient with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 63- to rotate the plunger one or more tooth spaces at a time when the lever Gr is rocked in one direction. and to permit said pawl to return freely across the face of the teeth.

A plate H is secured to the underside of the bed plate or platform 2 and extends downwardly therefrom said plate being provided with a diagonal slot having its opposite walls forming cams -7iand.

-7L', the lower end of the slot being open and disposed in the path of the vertically movable pin -g to receive said pin as the plunger approaches the limit of its upward movement and to permit it to ride again st the cam face ]L for reciting the member G and pawl carried thereby for rotating the plunger with the dashers thereon through a limited are as the pin continues its upward movement along the cam face h-, the op posite cam face -7L' serving to return the rocking member G to its starting position as the plunger is moved downwardly during which latter operation the pawl slides freely across the face of the teeth of the ratchet wheel -6Z The lower end of the slot in the plate -H is flared circuuiferentially to assure the entrance of the pin g" into said slot when the plunger is elevated.

l Vri ngcr mec/ irmism.

The washing machine equipped with a suitable wringer -T adapted to be moved to and from a position across the upper end of the vat 20- and comprises a frame .-i and a pair of rollers z'- which are adapted to be rotated in verse directions for feeding the clothes into and out of the vat.

The wringer frame i is provided at one end with a gear case J having a hub mounted upon the upper end of a stationary supporting post j, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the lower end of said post being removably mounted on a tubular hub -83 of the gear case 83.

The wringer frame is preferably made in sections, one section carrying the rollers t' while the other section is removably mounted upon the upper end of the post by upward. displacement, the sections of the wringor being secured together end to end by bolts The upper portion of the post jjust below the hub may be attached to the circular band 5- or adjacent leg 3 by n'ieans of a bracket K, which together with the bearing at the lower end of the post serves to hold it rigidly in an upright position it being held against rotation by any suitable means as, for example, a clamping plate *--7c on the bracket K.

The portion of the post -j within the hub is provided with a ties of in this instance foun radial apertures arranged equal distances apart circumferentially for receiving a locking bolt L which is slidable radially in a socket and in one de of the hub and is spring pressed inwardly into the aperture 7r: which may register therewith to hold the wringer in its adjusted position, the outer end of the pawl or bolt -L- being provided with a handle or knob M by which it may be withdrawn outwardly against the action of its retracting spring to release the wringer frame and to allow it to be turned horizontally about the axis of the post j to and from a position above one side of the tub or vat -20. I

The supporting shaft for the lower wringer roll z' is extended axially and jUlllfllzllUl in a suitable bearing m in the wringer frame or in one side of the gear case J- and is provided with a gear m secured thereto within said gear case.

A vertical shaft l l extends centrally through and beyond the opposite ends of the upright post y" and has its lower end journaled in a bearing S3-- in the gear case 83- and its upper end journaled in bearings a in the lower and upper side of the gear case J, the lower end of said shaft being provided with a gear meshing with the gear -9l: on the countershaft 79--.

A pair of beveled gears 0 are loosely mounted upon the upper end of the shaft- -N within the gear case -J and are normally engaged with the lowe and upper faces of the gear -a.

The inner ends of the beveled gears 0 are provided with clutch faces 0- adapted to be engaged by corresponding clutch faces on the ends of an interposed clutch collar P which is splined upon the shaft N- to rotate therewith and to move endwise into and out of engagement with the clutch faces 0.

A rock shaft Q- is journaled in a suitable bearing R on the outer end of the gear easeJ and is held against endwise movement by an adjusting screw -r which is engaged in a radial threaded aperture in the bearing R- and enters an annular groove r. The rock shaft Q- is provided with an eccentric pin -S carrying the roller 8- which rides in the annular groove in the collar P to adjust said collar axially into and out of engagement with one or the other of the gears --0 according to the direction in which it is desired to rotate the wringer rolls, said rock shaft being provided with a hand piece by which it may be operated.

Operation.

rection or the other according to the direction in which it is desired to rotate the wringer rolls, in which case the clutch 8S would be withdrawn from engagement with its companion clutch -87-.

Or, if desired, both the plunger and the wringer mechanism may be brought into action simultaneouslyby the proper adjustment of both of the clutches 88 and The operations and functions of the various other parts have been clearly defined in the foregoing description and while the construction shown is particularly simple, eflicient and economical, I do not wish to limit myself to that specific construction.

I claim:

1. Operating means for mechanical clothes washing machines having a vertically reciprocating plunger, and a lever movable about a horizontal axis for reciprocating said plunger, a gear case, a tubular shaft journaled in the gear case, means for rotating the tubijilar shaft, a crank shaft journaled solely in the tubular shaft and provided with a crank arm, clutch connections between the tubular shaft and crank shaft for stopping and starting the crank shaft, connections between the crank arm and lever for reciprocating the latter when the crank shaft is rotated, and means for holding the crank shaft and tubular shaft against relative endwise movement.

2. Operating means for mechanical clothes washing machines having a vertically reciprocating plunger, and a; lever movable about a horizontal axis for reciprocating said plunger, a gear case, a tubular shaft journaled in the gear case, means for rotating the tubular shaft, a crank shaft journaled in the tubular shaft and provided with a crank arm, clutch connections between the tubular shaft and crank shaft for stopping and starting the crank shaft, connections between the crank arm and lever for reciprocating the latter when the crank shaft is rotated, and means for holding the crank shaft and tubular shaft against relative endwise movement, said clutch connections including a clutch section slidable endwise of and within the tubular shaft into and out of clutching engagement with the crank shaft and operatively connected to the tubular shaft to rotate therewith, and means for shifting said clutch section.

I11 witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of November, 1923.

JOHN N. DERSCHUG. 

